Chapter 5: The Boss's Dinner

The notary caught the flu.

Craig told me so at seven on Friday morning, standing by my bed with his tie half knotted.

"Monday, then," he said. "Same time. And tonight the dinner with my boss is still on, so I need you upstairs and resting."

"What dinner?"

"I told you about it. My boss and his wife. Britt's doing the cooking, Dorothea will bring you a tray."

I had not been told about it.

"Then I'd love to come down," I said.

His tie stopped halfway through the knot.

"Jo, you can barely stand."

"I can sit. It's my house. I want to meet his wife."

"You're not well enough."

"Then I'll sit very still," I said, "and be well enough for an hour."

He looked at me.

"Fine," he said. "One hour."

I wore my gray wool dress and my mother's brooch, and I walked down the stairs on my own.

The dining room was lit with candles.

My late mother's table had been set for six. Craig sat at the head, with his boss on his right.

His boss was a big gray man with a loud laugh, and his wife was a thin silver-haired woman who looked at everything in the room as she came in.

"Joanna," she said, and took both my hands. "We were so sorry to hear."

"Thank you."

"Craig said you were still in bed."

"I got up for you," I said.

Britt came out of the kitchen with the soup.

She was in a black dress and a white apron, with her hair pinned up.

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